What should have been a celebration between two teams with the worst quarterbacks in the NFL turned into a day of utter embarrassment to the league, the teams, and sports fans in general. On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Oakland Raiders 17-3, thanks to two running backs that we’ve never heard of and some field goals. Both Alex Smith and Jason Campbell were as underwhelming as we’ve grown to know them, and their backups were also terribly unimpressive. Thankfully, nobody in the stands noticed, because they were busy beating the crap out of each other.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, there were multiple assaults reported at the game, including but not limited to:

A man wearing a “F*ck the 49ers” shirt was shot “two to four times” in the stomach in the parking lot and was only discovered after he fell out of his truck as he tried to drive away. San Francisco police have a suspect in custody, and it was reported that he was wearing a Raiders shirt. That means that Raiders fans were attacking Raiders fans, either over something unrelated or, quite possibly, through a misinterpretation of apparel.

Another man was found shot in a parking lot after the game, and he also had some wounds on his face. It wasn’t reported if he was wearing any specific team apparel and it shouldn’t matter.

A 26-year old man was found beaten and unconscious in a Candlestick Park bathroom, with “life-threatening injuries.”

After the jump, we have a video of another fight in the stands, including fans of both teams fighting each other.

I have two thoughts on this:

1) First, the superficial approach. “California sports fans are ridiculous, they make Philadelphia sports fans look quiet and polite.” That’s the general comment that has been posted on just about every blog and sports website regarding this story. And it’s stupid, because this is getting out of hand. There are fights in every stadium during every game in every sport, so your fans are no different than another guy’s fans (FACT: I won’t attend Miami Dolphins games anymore). But to play devil’s advocate – four fights with two shootings? Just months after Bryan Stow was beaten into a coma by gang members, too. California sports fans should just prepare themselves for the generalizations now, whether it’s fair or not.

2) Fans are never going change, and they’ll probably only get worse until examples are made and a figurative head is posted on a stake outside every stadium in America. Teams seriously need to step up their stadium crews and start yanking these jackasses out once the first punch is thrown. That also means that other fans need to start texting those snitch lines as soon as they see an issue. This isn’t prison, you’re not going to be stabbed in the yard because you reported people fighting or even just exhibiting obnoxious behavior. All you’re doing is making it safe for us to go to games again.

Join The Discussion

Wow. How depressing, actually. Is anyplace where large crowds gather safe anymore? And who would dress their kid in that ridiculous t-shirt. And why would ANY stadium continue to tolerate someone wearing it? Free speech my ass……

08.21.11 at 6:27 pm

M4G3RK

What cracks me up is when you hear parents complain about loutish behavior from drunken fans. Hey, guess what…you took your kid to a place that sells alcohol. People are gonna be doing and saying dumb shit you might not want your kid exposed to. Deal with it or stay home. I’m not defending drunk assholes but, you know what you might have to deal with when taking your kid to a stadium.

08.21.11 at 8:56 pm

Burnsy

I’ve always thought there should be two sections – family and, well, drunks. At least that way you know what to expect and where to put the security.

08.21.11 at 11:10 pm

GE

This is classic. I love the apologist attitude. When something bad happens in Philly it is time to break out Snowballs at Santa during the War of 1812 or thereabouts.

When it is another venue, we get “this goes on everywhere”.

Keep up the good work.

08.21.11 at 11:13 pm

shannon

Some sports venues have “family” sections. That is, sections where alcohol is prohibited. If people want to bring children to a game but don’t want to take their chances they can always try to get seats in those dry areas.

08.22.11 at 9:48 am

kuff6

PHILLY FANS THREW SNOWBALLS AT SANTA! THEY CHEERED WHEN MICHAEL IRVIN GOT HURT! ZOMG THEY ARE THE WORST!!!1!11!!

/intentionally vomits on cop’s daughter
//ok – that one was pretty bad, but it’s not like anyone got shot or beaten into a coma

08.22.11 at 10:15 am

Hoyvey

“That means that Raiders fans were attacking Raiders fans, either over something unrelated or, quite possibly, through a misinterpretation of apparel.”

That’s likely because 75% of NFL fans can’t read.

08.22.11 at 10:18 am

PitchittoBarrryBonds

I Was at the niners-oakland game the other day and i must say i’ve never seen a larger collection of douchebaggery together in one stadium. About 80% of the people there were the type you don’t want to see at a game or anywhere else in the world really. There was probably a fight breaking out every few minutes. At one point i saw about 3 fights going on at once.

This coming a day after i received a “warning” because i let a few F bombs out at an A’s game.
California sports and fans are messed up.

08.22.11 at 11:02 am

Jamaal Charles's Stolen TDs

“a celebration between two teams with the worst quarterbacks in the NFL”

The Cincinnati Bengals respectively object sir.

08.22.11 at 12:53 pm

Vince FilmDrunk

I got in a fistfight with Alex Smith once, but with his baby hands it just felt like a massage.

08.22.11 at 12:55 pm

Vince FilmDrunk

I just can’t understand this story, Raiders fans have always been so well behaved.

08.22.11 at 1:06 pm

Smegga

Burnsy, fans do change. When I was growing up in the eighties, I had to beg my parents to let me go to soccer matches. Sometimes it kicked off at matches, sometimes it didn’t.

Point is, all-seater stadiums came in, bans on alcohol in the grounds, heavy police presence outside, all were seen as an overreaction by the authorities, but it worked.

I know in the States you guys like to have a beer and a hot dog or whatever, but the alcohol plays a big part in it.

I take my daughters to soccer matches now, no problems. Yes, there is some trouble once in a while, but it’s safe inside and in the general vicinity of the ground.

Take a look on YouTube of Heysel or Hillsborough. That happened all the time in England, although not to that extent. Change needs to happen, it’ll only get worse.

08.22.11 at 3:10 pm

mosesmurphy

Gotta love all the dumbasses with their camera phones. Trash.

08.22.11 at 3:19 pm

Claude Balls

Nothing makes me sadder than 16-on-16 crime.

08.22.11 at 4:18 pm

Holy Shit Snacks

The people of Oakland and San Fransisco should be ashamed of themselves. What a horrid display put on in front of the rest of the country. Is that the type of shit you want people to think of when your cities are mentioned.

Oh, ya, and fights in the stands were messed up too.

08.22.11 at 6:14 pm

Freedom Chipmunk

It’s too bad Tim Tebow didn’t play for either team. Fifteen minutes of him intervening would have not only solved everyone’s difference, but likely prevented a shooting.

/God bless Tebow?
//God is Tebow?
///There is no God. Only Tebow!

08.22.11 at 9:52 pm

Otto Man

I’ve always thought there should be two sections – family and, well, drunks.

Except that would be a problem for those of us who are drunks *and* fathers.

08.22.11 at 9:55 pm

Otto Man

I like the banner photo here. The Niners have sassy children as fans while the Raiders have 40-year-old mouth-breathing mongoloids who merely dress and act like sassy children.